Alif Fahmi from Aquaria KLCC giving an educational talk about turtles to students. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
MAKING its way back to the shores of Penang, the rare Olive Ridley turtle’s return to the island marks a milestone in conservation efforts in the state.
Fisheries Department deputy director-general (management) Wan Muhammad Aznan Abdullah said last year’s sighting of the endangered sea turtle at the Teluk Bahang beach was the first in nearly 20 years.
“It has been quite a while since the Olive Ridley turtle was sighted here.
“This beach is one of 54 in the world where the Olive Ridley turtle comes to hatch,” he said, adding that the species was under threat of extinction.
Wan Muhammad Aznan was speaking after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aquaria KLCC marking an agreement to collaborate on management and preservation of turtles and the biodiversity along the Teluk Bahang beach.
The MOU was signed with Aquawalk Group managing director Datuk Simon Foong at Angsana Teluk Bahang Hotel and witnessed by Balik Pulau MP Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik.
The area is along the coastline from Teluk Bahang to Batu Ferringhi with a 5km radius to be preserved and protected for the cause.
The ‘Turtle-Friendly Beach’ notice installed on the beach near Angsana Teluk Bahang Hotel.
Aquaria KLCC is sponsoring more than RM500,000 to build upcoming facilities including a conservation gallery, public viewing lab and turtle hatchery hub by the Teluk Bahang beach situated at the Angsana Hotel.
It will also provide manpower as its staff have been trained to be rangers and conduct beach patrolling during the nesting season.
Meanwhile, there was an educational talk on turtles held by Aquaria KLCC for school students invited to witness the MOU signing ceremony.
Wan Muhammad Aznan said following the return of the Olive Ridley turtle, various conservation efforts had been taken by the department and Aquaria KLCC to protect the area.
“We hope Penang will serve as a landing area for the Olive Ridley turtle. This beach (in Teluk Bahang) is vast and pristine.
“We are doing all we can with the support of the rest (Aquaria KLCC, Angsana Teluk Bahang Hotel) and the local community to keep this beach as clean as possible to attract the Olive Ridley turtle here,” he said
Wan Muhammad Aznan added that there were several factors that encouraged the Olive Ridley turtle to make its return, one of which was the ban of trawler nets 7km from the beach.
“This means there are no disturbances.
“Higher education institutions, non-governmental organisations and relevant agencies are playing their part in conservation as well which go hand in hand with strict enforcement,” he said.
Between 2019 and last year, he said, Penang recorded 292 landings of mainly Green Sea turtle along Pantai Keracut, Teluk Kampi and Teluk Bahang.
“There were 27,701 turtle eggs collected between that period but only 17,607 of them hatched.
“These turtles are endangered and it is great that the beaches here are wider compared to other places, giving them more space to lay their eggs,” he said.
He added that despite there being only one sighting of the Olive Ridley turtle at the Teluk Bahang beach, it still resulted in the area being declared a “Turtle- Friendly Beach”.
Wan Muhammad Aznan said a “Turtle Landing Area” signage had been placed along the beach to notify the public on the dos and don’ts if they see a turtle, including reporting the sighting to the Fisheries Department, and not touching the animal.
